2024 Olympics had the first-ever gymnastics podium composed entirely of black female medalist
Web Photo – Gold medalist Rebeca Andrade (center), silver medalist Simone Biles (left), and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles (right) celebrate on the podium at the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Floor Exercise compatition medal ceremony.
Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles and Rebeca Andrade made Olympic history at the 2024 Summer Games as the first all-black gymnastics podium finishers.
Andrade, 25, won gold in the floor final on Monday, August 5, 2024 at the Bercy Arena in Paris, with 27-yearold Biles earning silver and Chiles, 23, taking home the bronze.
Monday’s medals marked the first time in Olympic history that a gymnastics podium has been entirely made up of black athletes. After the historic moment, the gymnasts told reporters, including PEOPLE (magazine), what it meant to them.
“We can show the Black Power,” Andrade said after the final. “I love myself, my skin color. But I’m also not focused on that. Rebeca goes beyond her color,” the gymnast said, speaking in third person.
“And the same goes for Jordan, for Simone. The idea is it serves as an incentive,” Andrade continued, explaining that while “sometimes it may be more difficult” for gymnasts because of their “skin color,” the trio has proven that “it’s possible” and “you can do it.”
During the medal ceremony, Biles and Chiles of the United States took a moment to bow to Andrade for winning the gold.
“She’s so amazing, she’s queen,” Biles said of the Brazilian gold medalist. “And first, it was an all-Black podium, so that was super exciting for us.”
Biles revealed that it was Chiles who suggested bowing to Andrade during the historic moment on the podium. “And I was like, absolutely,” Biles continued.
“So we’re like, are we gonna do it now? And then that’s why we did it.” Biles added that Andrade is “such an excitement to watch” and Team USA has noticed “all the fans in the crowd always cheering for her.”
Chiles told reporters that she and her USA teammate wanted to give Andrade “her flowers” during the medal ceremony.
“Not only has she given Simone her flowers, but a lot of us in the United States our flowers as well, so giving it back is what makes it so beautiful, so I felt like it was needed,” Chiles added, calling Andrade “an icon” and a “legend.”
On July 30, 2024 Biles became the most-decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history.
But Biles told reporters during an earlier press conference this Games that she does not “keep count.”
“I just go out here and do what I’m supposed to and I’m doing what I love and enjoying it, so that’s really all that matters to me,” she said.
After Monday’s floor final, Biles said she’s “accomplished way more” than her “wildest dreams” in the sport. “I can’t be mad at my performances. A couple of years ago I didn’t think I’d be back here at an Olympic game,” she added.
